The journey through the woods finally came to an end as the dense trees began to thin out.
The canopy above parted to reveal a sky full of bright stars.
Kai stepped quietly over a cluster of roots and looked out at the body of water stretching across the horizon.
The evening air felt cool against his skin.
He expected to find a peaceful shore where he could rest and plan his route across the lake.
But the shoreline was not empty at all.
[Location Discovered: Vanguard Forward Docks]
Kai crouched low behind a cluster of bushes and observed the scene.
A sprawling network of docks had been built directly over the shallow water.
Tall torches were spaced evenly along the planks, casting a flickering orange glow over the area.
Anchored at the very end of the longest dock was a wooden transport ship.
It was large enough to carry hundreds of soldiers and a massive amount of cargo.
The people walking around the docks were definitely not local fishermen.
